Okay, that title sounded way more serious than the post that follows, but anyway.
So, I decided that after 3 weeks of no meat, I would start back on it. Honestly, it has not been any practice of will to refrain from eating meat. I never even missed it; therefore I just didn't feel the need to continue to experiment any longer. Maybe if I would have gone completely vegan, it would have been different. I know prolonged, if I would have gone 2 or more months without meat, I may have started to miss it, but 1 month (or 3 weeks) wasn't really long enough to make a difference.
So, I switched things up a bit. Starting this past Monday, I am not eating any sugary snacks or desserts until May 29, a little under 3 weeks. I admit this is more of a weight-loss thing, but will also be a major test of will for me. I love my sweets- I think that was why the meatless things wasn't that big of a deal; I was able to console myself with twinkies.
Anyway, I have done well with one slip up though. Yesterday, I was digging through my purse and I found a single sort of gray in color and crusty in texture skittle at the bottom of my purse. I was desperate. And weak. And I felt sick afterward.
Showing posts with label experiment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label experiment. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
just no meat to this post
So, its my one week vegetarian anniversary. I am celebrating tonight with beans. It hasn't been bad actually. So far, two good things have come out of this. One, I have been loving the fruit this past week. Two, I haven't over-eaten at meal time because I haven't been eating anything overly delicious. Who can get excited about rice krispies? I usually obsessively get into planning what I am going to eat and then into eating it because this girl loves to eat. I usually get a bit too much enjoyment from my meals, so this past week, I haven't concentrated so much on it and its causing me not to eat too much. I can see how it could get old though. I am not really feeling great about my diet- I don't think I am getting enough of the protein.
I did eat my first Boca burger last night though. It wasn't too bad, but I will tell you I didn't go back for seconds!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Miss Prissy Pot suffers tragic death
This evening I came across this ridiculous picture I took several years ago. My Aunt Vickie, who is well known for sending adorable and random things to me in the mail, sent this to me and I just fell in love with it. I mean, really, can something stuffed be any cuter? Anyway, I don't remember what I was thinking when I posed it, but I do remember it stayed there in that basket on my kitchen counter, sitting atop those lemons for quite awhile.Sadly, her untimely death was a result of too much time spent prissying around on those lemons. She developed a nasty case of mold on her butt, bedsores if you will, and had to be thrown away.
Devastatingly disgusting.
On other news, I have been meatless for 4 days now. Its going well. I accidently took one bite of taco meat last night, but realized before I swallowed and was able to spit it out. But other than that, I have done well. I have been dealing with a sick child and haven't been able to grocery shop yet, so I am seriously lacking the protein though. I have been eating a lot of rice krispies and fruit. I have had a slight headache and feel a bit sluggish the past two days. That could very well have more to do with being around a fussy, sleepless baby though. Not sure. I hope to get my menu in order in a few days though so I can eat a bit more well rounded.
That's all for now- hope you all have a great weekend!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
oh yeah, another reason to vegitate
I forgot its Earth Day today, another great reason to veg for a month.
Here are some other things we can do, courtesy of my friend Lori, who doesn't have a blog to link to, but should:
If you can’t give up the steak, buy pasture-raised beef.
Pasture-raised cattle raised using environmentally sustainable practices will cost you a little more, but it is better for your health and the environment, not to mention the animals. Buy it from a local producer, such as White Oak Pastures that sells their beef at Publix and Whole Foods, and you’ll reap even more benefits by supporting the local economy and reducing carbon emissions associated with transporting beef produced out West.
Eat chicken in place of red meat, especially if it’s organic.
Conventional beef cattle production in the US has a heavy impact on the environment, so eating chicken instead of red meat for one or more of your “meat meals” per week can reduce your carbon footprint. Since chickens require far less water and feed than cows and pigs, and since they produce less waste, poultry is a more environmentally friendly dietary choice than other meats.
Organic chicken, raised without hormones or antibiotics and fed organic feed, are simply better for your health and the environment, and even the chickens. If you choose locally raised, organic chicken—like these at Vidal Holdings in Stockbridge, Georgia—you’ll do even better. Certified organic eggs (look for the label) cost more, but are also
Choose the fish you eat with care.
Fish that live in coastal areas also have lower impact on the environment than cattle, although fish that must be harvested from deep in the ocean can require massive fuel expenditures to locate, catch and distribute them—often as much as conventionally raised beef. Check out the Environmental Defense Fund’s Seafood Selector to find the best fish for you and the environment. They’ve got a handy printable card you can put in your wallet to help you make good choices at the grocery or a restaurant.
Eat two vegetarian lunches or dinners per week.
If you’re interested in reducing your impact on the earth, peruse the produce section at the local market and experiment with a couple of vegetarian meals per week. If you replace only two “meat meals” per week with vegetarian options, and you’ll reduce your carbon footprint as much as if you switched from driving a Camry to driving a Prius.
Go veg!
If you go vegetarian, you’ll reduce your impact on the planet significantly, even if you eat eggs and dairy products. A vegan diet (totally plant/grain/seed/bean-based) has the lowest impact of all dietary choices, yet still offers a wide variety of culinary options. Despite the rumors, vegetarian diets offer plenty of protein, calcium and iron, and they don’t require complicated food pairings to be healthy.
Olympic track star Carl Lewis had been a vegan for a year when he set a world record for the 100 meter race, clocking in at 9.26 seconds. If an Olympic athlete can set world records powered by plants, just imagine what you could do.
Buy locally grown fruits and veggies whenever possible.
Not only will you enjoy the tastiest, in-season foods, buying locally greatly reduces carbon emissions and supports the local economy to boot. That mango flown in from Peru in February required far more petroleum to get to your local grocery store than the collard greens grown in south Georgia, not to mention that the mango was picked while still green, which means it won’t be nearly as tasty as one grown closer to home in the summer months.
An easy way to buy locally is to buy shares in a CSA (community supported agriculture) program. Basically, you pay a local farmer a base fee per “share” of the food he or she grows that season, and you get a weekly crate of whatever is being harvested at that time of year (fruits, veggies, and in some cases, flowers and eggs). One example of a local, organic CSA is Gaia Gardens in Decatur. There are several CSA programs in metro Atlanta, and often the farms use organic practices, too.
Buy organic, especially if it’s local.
Organic farms do not use fertilizers or pesticides that not only may be carcinogenic, but also get into our water supply and do damage. Organic farms tend to be smaller, diversified family farms that support environmentally sustainable practices, so when you buy from them, you’re using your wallet to make a statement about the world we want to live in. Always look for the certified organic label to be sure it’s really organic.
Grow your own.
Growing your own fruits and veggies is fun and easy, especially with the South’s long growing season. Best of all, you can ensure at least some of your food is both local and organic. Herbs are perhaps the easiest to grow, and in a sunny spot (even in a bucket on your patio), it’s easy to grow more tomatoes than you can eat. You can share the rest with friends and family, or donate them the local soup kitchen or food pantry. Other veggies are equally easy to grow. Not a gardener? Just throw some small plants in the ground and see what happens. If you water them regularly, you’re in for a bounty of delicious, seasonal foods!
Learn more about your food.
If you love good writing and want to learn more about the food you buy, pick up a copy of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. If you like that one, be sure to read the follow-up book, In Defense of Food. You can read many of the NYT articles that form the basis for these books for free on his website. It’ll change the way you think about food—for the better.
Happy eating!
Here are some other things we can do, courtesy of my friend Lori, who doesn't have a blog to link to, but should:
If you can’t give up the steak, buy pasture-raised beef.
Pasture-raised cattle raised using environmentally sustainable practices will cost you a little more, but it is better for your health and the environment, not to mention the animals. Buy it from a local producer, such as White Oak Pastures that sells their beef at Publix and Whole Foods, and you’ll reap even more benefits by supporting the local economy and reducing carbon emissions associated with transporting beef produced out West.
Eat chicken in place of red meat, especially if it’s organic.
Conventional beef cattle production in the US has a heavy impact on the environment, so eating chicken instead of red meat for one or more of your “meat meals” per week can reduce your carbon footprint. Since chickens require far less water and feed than cows and pigs, and since they produce less waste, poultry is a more environmentally friendly dietary choice than other meats.
Organic chicken, raised without hormones or antibiotics and fed organic feed, are simply better for your health and the environment, and even the chickens. If you choose locally raised, organic chicken—like these at Vidal Holdings in Stockbridge, Georgia—you’ll do even better. Certified organic eggs (look for the label) cost more, but are also
Choose the fish you eat with care.
Fish that live in coastal areas also have lower impact on the environment than cattle, although fish that must be harvested from deep in the ocean can require massive fuel expenditures to locate, catch and distribute them—often as much as conventionally raised beef. Check out the Environmental Defense Fund’s Seafood Selector to find the best fish for you and the environment. They’ve got a handy printable card you can put in your wallet to help you make good choices at the grocery or a restaurant.
Eat two vegetarian lunches or dinners per week.
If you’re interested in reducing your impact on the earth, peruse the produce section at the local market and experiment with a couple of vegetarian meals per week. If you replace only two “meat meals” per week with vegetarian options, and you’ll reduce your carbon footprint as much as if you switched from driving a Camry to driving a Prius.
Go veg!
If you go vegetarian, you’ll reduce your impact on the planet significantly, even if you eat eggs and dairy products. A vegan diet (totally plant/grain/seed/bean-based) has the lowest impact of all dietary choices, yet still offers a wide variety of culinary options. Despite the rumors, vegetarian diets offer plenty of protein, calcium and iron, and they don’t require complicated food pairings to be healthy.
Olympic track star Carl Lewis had been a vegan for a year when he set a world record for the 100 meter race, clocking in at 9.26 seconds. If an Olympic athlete can set world records powered by plants, just imagine what you could do.
Buy locally grown fruits and veggies whenever possible.
Not only will you enjoy the tastiest, in-season foods, buying locally greatly reduces carbon emissions and supports the local economy to boot. That mango flown in from Peru in February required far more petroleum to get to your local grocery store than the collard greens grown in south Georgia, not to mention that the mango was picked while still green, which means it won’t be nearly as tasty as one grown closer to home in the summer months.
An easy way to buy locally is to buy shares in a CSA (community supported agriculture) program. Basically, you pay a local farmer a base fee per “share” of the food he or she grows that season, and you get a weekly crate of whatever is being harvested at that time of year (fruits, veggies, and in some cases, flowers and eggs). One example of a local, organic CSA is Gaia Gardens in Decatur. There are several CSA programs in metro Atlanta, and often the farms use organic practices, too.
Buy organic, especially if it’s local.
Organic farms do not use fertilizers or pesticides that not only may be carcinogenic, but also get into our water supply and do damage. Organic farms tend to be smaller, diversified family farms that support environmentally sustainable practices, so when you buy from them, you’re using your wallet to make a statement about the world we want to live in. Always look for the certified organic label to be sure it’s really organic.
Grow your own.
Growing your own fruits and veggies is fun and easy, especially with the South’s long growing season. Best of all, you can ensure at least some of your food is both local and organic. Herbs are perhaps the easiest to grow, and in a sunny spot (even in a bucket on your patio), it’s easy to grow more tomatoes than you can eat. You can share the rest with friends and family, or donate them the local soup kitchen or food pantry. Other veggies are equally easy to grow. Not a gardener? Just throw some small plants in the ground and see what happens. If you water them regularly, you’re in for a bounty of delicious, seasonal foods!
Learn more about your food.
If you love good writing and want to learn more about the food you buy, pick up a copy of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. If you like that one, be sure to read the follow-up book, In Defense of Food. You can read many of the NYT articles that form the basis for these books for free on his website. It’ll change the way you think about food—for the better.
Happy eating!
going all Alicia Silverstone on you
So, my sister has proposed the idea of no meat for a month and I jumped on it with her. She's so adventurous.
Anyway, I must explain why I am doing it. I don't have a moral issue with eating meat; but I must say that I feel a sense of guilt after watching movies like "Fast Food Nation" or after I read articles on the subject. I have always wondered what it would be like to eat 100% guilt free (assuming I am not eating other guilty pleasure foods like buttery bread or desserts). I have also wondered what my body would feel like and do if I actually eat more fruits and veggies. Its not just an experiment on the body, but also of the mind. I don't have a lot of willpower when it comes to food, so this will be a test. So that's three reasons and that's really it.
I am very aware that this will be difficult and have thought about my particular challenges:
-getting enough protein. I am not much of a bean eater, and I would rather not get it from peanut butter, or rather my thighs would rather not get it from peanut butter. So, I am going to have to experiment and come up with some stuff. I recently started working out again, and def. don't want to skimp on the protein. Suggestions are welcome!
-not making up for the loss of meat in carbs. I can totally see myself justifying mashed potatoes, rolls, and other breads if I don't eat meat. I want to eat the right kinds of foods to supplement the meat and make me full.
-I have a twisted way of thinking when it comes to deprivation of something. In the past, when I give up something, I add something else as a reward that is usually no more healthy than what I am giving up. For example, I may stay away from cokes, but I may eat a little debby mid afternoon because "its not like I have had any cokes today". Grr. Self sabatoge. I certainly don't want to be rewarding myself with ho-ho's because I am sticking to my plan.
-Just the self discipline is going to to hard- cooking meat for my family and then not partaking in it. Lucky for me, I am not that good of a cook anyway, so it won't really be an issue of denying myself anything really tasty!
So, those will be my struggles; we'll see how it goes!
Anyway, I must explain why I am doing it. I don't have a moral issue with eating meat; but I must say that I feel a sense of guilt after watching movies like "Fast Food Nation" or after I read articles on the subject. I have always wondered what it would be like to eat 100% guilt free (assuming I am not eating other guilty pleasure foods like buttery bread or desserts). I have also wondered what my body would feel like and do if I actually eat more fruits and veggies. Its not just an experiment on the body, but also of the mind. I don't have a lot of willpower when it comes to food, so this will be a test. So that's three reasons and that's really it.
I am very aware that this will be difficult and have thought about my particular challenges:
-getting enough protein. I am not much of a bean eater, and I would rather not get it from peanut butter, or rather my thighs would rather not get it from peanut butter. So, I am going to have to experiment and come up with some stuff. I recently started working out again, and def. don't want to skimp on the protein. Suggestions are welcome!
-not making up for the loss of meat in carbs. I can totally see myself justifying mashed potatoes, rolls, and other breads if I don't eat meat. I want to eat the right kinds of foods to supplement the meat and make me full.
-I have a twisted way of thinking when it comes to deprivation of something. In the past, when I give up something, I add something else as a reward that is usually no more healthy than what I am giving up. For example, I may stay away from cokes, but I may eat a little debby mid afternoon because "its not like I have had any cokes today". Grr. Self sabatoge. I certainly don't want to be rewarding myself with ho-ho's because I am sticking to my plan.
-Just the self discipline is going to to hard- cooking meat for my family and then not partaking in it. Lucky for me, I am not that good of a cook anyway, so it won't really be an issue of denying myself anything really tasty!
So, those will be my struggles; we'll see how it goes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)